Media is a powerful instrument for promoting healthy democratic rights of people. In South Africa the Electoral Commission hosted a media summit on July 23-24 to discuss the vital role of media in promotion of healthy democratic elections

MEDIA SINCE its inception is acting as a tool of promoting democracy and exposing the wrongs within government bodies. Most people agree that media is powerful in promoting healthy democratic rights of people. Others praise media saying that without it the society would not have developed the way it has now. Media gives people news, education, entertainment, analysis and it also informs the society.

In South Africa on the July 23-24 the independent Electoral Commission of the country hosted a two-day summit in which the main issue was to discuss the vital role of media in promotion of healthy democratic elections. It was said that media should always try to be as objective as possible when covering the issues of elections. According to Professor Tinyiko Maluleke from UNISA South African, media plays a major role in promoting democracy.
On the issue of media being unable to promote democracy in countries like Zimbabwe, speakers said, media is being used by those in power to highlight their dirty works and covering things that are supposed to be brought forward. In these countries independent media houses are being proscribed. In such countries, media is not being used as a promotion tool for democracy but a tool used for propaganda by the people in power.
The commissioner of IEC in Limpopo, South Africa Nkaro Mateta praised South Africa for having a very good relationship between media and political parties, including the government. “Media should be able to share thoughts with government and political parties,” said Mateta.